Kenya to preside over UN Security Council Presidency for the month of October
Kenya will preside over the affairs of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the month of October.
The debate will address the crucial problems in Africa, such as weapons smuggling, ethnic identities and relations with regional blocs.
In a video statement, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that Kenya’s contribution to the Security Council will continue to be anchored in an enduring hope and firm belief that together “we can create a better world”.
“I look forward to joining other world leaders at the Security Council in confronting and addressing the intractable challenges to peace, security and development that face our world today,” he said.
“I also look forward to negotiating multilateral positions that will secure peace for our region, continent and the world.”
Kenyatta had outlined some of the key discussions during the events which include how illicit small arms and light weapons impact peacekeeping operations as well as how to better support and promote women peacekeepers and peace builders.
Matters diversity will also be part of his agenda, a core aim in promoting state building and the pursuit of peace.
“In many countries, we are witnessing state fragility that leads to protracted crises. This fragility is, driven mainly by inability of countries to manage diversity within nations, thus offering militant and terrorist groups opportunities to create social discontent and control large territories within affected countries,” said Kenyatta.
“The tools to deal with these crises are not proving adequate; so we must work to improve their capabilities. The most important task we can undertake is to increase the competence of states to manage both political and social diversity within their nation states.”
He said he was proud to lead a country that has worked hard to deepen its democracy and to entrench the rule of law, embracing all in the society irrespective of race, colour, gender or religious affiliation.
“Throughout my tenure as the President, I have led a nation that is marching forward to attain the “Greatness We Believe, Is In Us”. I am proud to have furthered that ambition by building bridges of unity and inclusion for all,” said Kenyatta.
Kenya’s Presidency of the UN Security Council will be taking place at a critical juncture in the international arena when there is unequal trade and investment patterns, the outflows of illicit finance and inflows of illicit small arms and light weapons, the extraction versus production mentality, are all escalating global inequality, fragility, conflict and violence.
The presidency of the United Nations Security Council is responsible for leading the UNSC.
It rotates among the 15 member-states of the council monthly.
The presidency has rotated every month since its establishment in 1946, and the president serves to coordinate actions of the council, decide policy disputes, and sometimes functions as a diplomat or intermediary between conflicting groups.
On Monday next week, the first session Kenya will preside over will involve discussions on whether to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, a bureau established in 2019 to help strengthen political stability and good governance, including the rule of law; advance a peaceful and stable environment and human rights.
